Fifth-wheel



(No ModeL.

Ji W. LEETE. FIFTH WHEEL. No. 316,276. Patented Apr. 21, 1885.-

.UVVEJVTOR Jz Wil-eem.

Attornew UNTTED STATES vPATENT Ormea. v

JOHN WILLIAM LEETE, OF SOUTH MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

SPECIFICATION forming parl'. of Letters Patent No. 316,276, dated April21, 1885.

Application filed December 16, 1884. (No model.)

has for its object to provide a device of this character which will besimple, strong, and light in construction, which is applicable to allclasses of vehicles, is efficientinoperation, will not work out oforder, and is readily and conveniently applied in position.

With these and other objects in view the said invention consists incertain details of construction and combination of parts, as hereinafterset forth, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my improvedfifth-wheel in position for operation, with the proximate parts attachedthereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the parts detached. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the boltsconnecting the two plates.

Like letters are used to indicate corresponding partsin the severalfigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designatesthe lower circle or plate of myimproved iifthwheel, having lateral extensions B B secured to the axle Cby clips D D. The said plate A consists of the central hub or spider, E,con-i nected by radial arms F with the outer ring, G, the latter beingslotted or channeled both at the front and rear, as shown at ab, saidslots extending nearly around the ring. The hub E is provided on itsupper face with an annu lar recess or depression,c, forming in thecenter thereof a circular projection, c l, an annu` lar iiange or wall,e, inclosing the said recess.

H designates the upper plate, consisting of the hub- I, connected bysegmental wings J with the outer ring, K, the latter being perforated atff for the passage of bolts L L. (Shown in detail, Fig. 4.) The saidbolts have a square head, the outer face of which is rounded, and a bodycomprising the oblong main portion g, the diminished tapering portion h,and a threaded projection, r', to receive the nut j. lVhen in position,the oblong portion fits in the slots a b of the lower plate, A. Thetapering portion is arranged in the correspondingly-tapered squareperforations f f of the upper plate, and the threaded projection extendsabove the latter and receives the nut.

The hub I of the upper plate has a circular depression, k, in the lowerface thereof, and an annular recess, l, around its circumference at theunder side, an annular projection or wall, m, being arranged between thecentral depression and the recess.

The metallic braces M M for the perch or reach are formed integral withthe top plate of the fifth-wheel, and connected with the perch in theusual manner. In the drawings I have shown what vis termed a doubleperch, but it will be apparent that I may employ the ordinaryconstruction of perch, and use only one set of braces M.

The elliptic spring O is attached in position by the clips l? P, whichencircle the same, and have their arms or' y shanks passing down throughthe wings J J, and secured by nuts at the lower ends. Abolt, N, alsopasses through the spring O and hubs I E, and is secured to the underside of the latter hub, E, so as to hold the two plates or circles ofthe fifth-wheel together. Bolts Q Q'are also used to hold the lowerplate, A,in position by passing through its arms F into and through theaxle.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from theforegoing description, taken in connection with the annexed drawings.The lower plate is secured to the axle by the clips and bolts beforementioned. The spring is secured to the upper plate also by the clips.The upper plate is placed parallel with the lower plate, and attachedthereto by the bolts L L, and the bolt N is secured by the nut above thespring.

It will be seen that in operation the bolts L L travel through the slotsor channels a I),

formed in the lower plate, since said bolts are rigid with the upperplate. The peculiar construction of the bolt reduces friction and wear,and enables the parts to run with greater ease, the fifth-wheel readilyresponding to the action of the axle or perch.

The attachment of the parts is convenient, so that it requires but ashort time to make the necessary connections.

The fifth-wheel is light, may be made in various forms, shapes, andsizes, and is capable of resisting considerable'strain without gettingout of order. It is applicable to all classes of vehicles Without anychange, dispenses with the use of the king-bolt, and simplifestheconstruction in every respect. It is eicient in operation, and willprove of great utility for the purposes intended. v

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. The hereindescribedfifth-wheel, comprising an upper and lowerplate Working face to faceagainst each other, the lower plate being secured to the axle, andhaving slots a b at the front and rear, and bolts consisting of auoblong portion tting in the slots and a

